SLEEP APNEA
What is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is when the airway collapses during sleep, blocking
the flow of air to the lungs. The person tries to continue to breathe, but the harder
they try, the tighter the airway closes. Eventually the brain “wakes up” the person
to a lighter level of sleep and the person will reposition their jaw and tongue to
open the airway—usually with a gasp or snort. The sleeper will then usually start
the whole process over again.
Stages of Sleep
Obviously, being suffocated many times per hour will result in a less than restful sleep. Sleep is broken into four main stages:
Stage One —Transition Sleep: This should account for roughly 5% of total sleep time.
Stage Two—Light Sleep: This should account for about 45% of total sleep time.
Stage Three—Deep Sleep: This is when the body heals itself and performs many important reparative functions. Ideally, this should account for 25% of total sleep time. People who have a lack of deep sleep tend to be physically tired.
REM—Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep: This is where most of your memorable dreaming comes from for the night. REM should also account for about 25% of your sleep time. People that have a lack of REM sleep tend to feel mentally tired and have a difficult time concentrating.
It is crucial that we get the necessary amount of deep sleep and REM sleep so that we can live happy, healthy lives.
Stage One —Transition Sleep: This should account for roughly 5% of total sleep time.
Stage Two—Light Sleep: This should account for about 45% of total sleep time.
Stage Three—Deep Sleep: This is when the body heals itself and performs many important reparative functions. Ideally, this should account for 25% of total sleep time. People who have a lack of deep sleep tend to be physically tired.
REM—Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep: This is where most of your memorable dreaming comes from for the night. REM should also account for about 25% of your sleep time. People that have a lack of REM sleep tend to feel mentally tired and have a difficult time concentrating.
It is crucial that we get the necessary amount of deep sleep and REM sleep so that we can live happy, healthy lives.
Linked Health Issues
Sleep Apnea is also considered a risk factor for several serious health problems, such as:
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
Affects Children Also
Sleep apnea also affects children. Usually this is due to the child having large tonsils that obstruct the airway; just like in adults, often snoring is a sign of an obstructed airway. Some of the problems common in children that have been linked to sleep apnea include:
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Mood disorders
- Bed wetting
- Problems learning
- Growth problems
Affects Sleep Partner
Sleep apnea can also adversely affect the sleep of the bed partner of the person with sleep apnea. Please click the link to read a study done by the Mayo Clinic on the effect of sleep apnea and snoring on the bed partner.
